Fence



W. C. BRIGGS Jan. 16, 1940.

' FENCE Filed Feb. 2, 1939 gmwm MZZIZW LT firz'ggs I Patented Jan. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to fence constructions and more particularly to a fence designed as a wind or snow fence.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved fence structure which is so constructed that snow, dust or other material is adapted to pass through the fence and then be deposited on the opposite side of the fence.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fence structure which can be easily and quickly mounted at the desired location, particularly at one side of a road so that the wind passing through the fence will have the material carried thereby, such as snow or dust, deposited closely adjacentlthe'fence in order that the material will not accumulate in the roadway.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fence structure which is formed of a plurality of parallel and horizontally disposed slats which are 20 so constructed as to provide an increased velocity of the wind through the spaces between the pairs of slats or bars so that the material in the form of snow or dust will be precipitated on the opposite side of the bars.

26 With the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing,

80 wherein is disclosed an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a detail front elevation partly broken away of a fence constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line up 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral Ill designates generally a post which, as shown in Figure 4, is T-shaped in transverse section and is provided on the lower end thereof with an anchoring member H. The post ID has secured to 50 the flanges or cross-bar l2 thereof a plurality of vertically spaced apart brackets generally designated as M.

The brackets 14 comprise a pair of parallel horizontally disposed arms [5 provided at their inner 5; ends with laterally and right-angularly disposed lugs or flanges 13. The flanges or lugs l3 comprise feet which are adapted to be secured as by welding or other suitable fastening devices to the flanges or cross-bar 12 of the post 10. The brackets 14 include a substantially V-shaped con- 5 necting member 16 formed integrally with the arms 15 at their outer ends and the V-shaped connecting member it has the apex or peak thereof formed as an are as at IT. The integral divergent legs or sides of the connecting member 10 16 are each provided with vertically aligned openings It, the purpose for which will be hereinafter described. A plurality of horizontally disposed bars 19 are adapted to be secured to the brackets l4 and each bar 19 comprises an elongated member which is V-shaped in transverse section and which is adapted to have the convergent portion thereof seated on the V-shaped connecting member 16 of the brackets M. The channel bars [9 are each provided with a pair of vertically 2o aligned openings 20, which are adapted to register with the openings I8 in the brackets 14 and a locking pin 2| is adapted to engage through the openings 20 and the openings I8 so as'to detachably secure the bars I9 on the brackets I l. The fastening members 2| are constructed in the form of a double-headed nail, the inner head or flange 22 of which is adapted to limit the insertion of the nail or pin 2! through the openings 20 and I8 and the outer or end head 23 of which is adapted to be engaged by a claw hammer or other tool which. may be used to insert or remove the locking member 2| from the bars [9 and the brackets l4.

As shown in Figure 1, the bars 19 are relatively longer than the space between each pair of posts 10, so that the opposite ends of the bars I9 are adapted to project beyond the posts Ill and additional bars [9 are adapted to overlap the projecting ends of the first series of bars 19, as m shown in Figure 1. A single nail or fastening member 2! is used for securing the overlapping ends of adjacent bars IE! to the bracket members M. The bars 19 have the convergent edges thereof facing the wind so that when the Wind strikes the fence, the wind will be compressed between each pair of bars 18, thus increasing the velocity of the wind through thebars l9 and after the wind passes through each pair of bars IS, the compressed wind will expand and thereby release any material in the form of dust or snow which will be deposited on the lee side of the fence. In this manner, the fence may be positioned a slight distance away from and parallel with a roadway and when the wind passes through the fence, 5

the material carried thereby will be deposited on the lee side of the fence, thus preventing the deposit of the material in the roadway.

The bars H) are adapted to be constructed out of metal and the posts 10 may also be constructed out of metal although, if desired, the brackets l4 may be secured to wooden posts. Preferably, however, the posts ID are constructed out of metal and the bar, supporting brackets M are fixedly secured to the posts 10 so that the fence can be easily and quickly assembled by merely driving or setting the posts in the ground and then securing the bars l9 to the supporting brackets I4. 7

In the use of this fence structure, the posts H] are initially provided with the brackets M which are secured to the flanges or cross-bar l2 by welding or other suitable fastening devices and then the posts ID are set up in a vertical position in the ground at the desired location. The bars l9 are then attached to the brackets M with the ends of adjacent bars overlapping each other as shown in Figure 1. The fastening or looking pins 2| are then inserted through the openings 20 and I8 in the bars l5! and the brackets M. The bars 19 are positioned with the apex thereof facing the prevailing winds so that the wind passing through pairs of the bars [9 will be compressed between each pair of bars until the wind passes entirely through the bars, whereupon the Wind will expand and any material carried by the wind will be precipitated or released for deposit on the lee side of the fence structure. A fence constructed according to this invention will prevent the accumulation of snowdrifts or dust drifts in the roadway and the fence may be set up during the seasons of prevailing snows or dust or may be left standing as a permanent fence. By constructing the bars 19 as channel bars, when the fence has been taken down the bars l9 may be nested together thus permitting the storing of the bars [9 in a relatively small space.

What I claim is:

1. A fence comprising vertical posts, horizontal vertically spaced apart bars, each of said bars being substantially V-shaped in transverse section with the divergent side thereof confronting said posts, vertically spaced apart bracket members fixed to said posts, each bracket mem ber including a substantially V-shaped outer por tion engageable within a bar, and a locking pin engaging through a bar and the outer portion of a bracket for looking a bar on a bracket.

2. A fence comprising vertical posts, horizontal vertically spaced apart bars, each of said bars being substantially V-shaped in transverse section with the divergent side thereof confronting said posts, vertically spaced apart bracket members fixed to said posts, each bracket member including a pair of spaced horizontally disposed parallel arms, means securing the inner ends of said parallel arms to a post, each bracket member including a V-shaped connecting member integral with the outer ends of its arms, each of said bars and said connecting members having aligned openings, and locking pins removably engaging through said openings for detachably securing said bars on said bracket members.

WILLIAM C. BRIGGS. 

